Behavior Analyst Certificate

Program Description

By completing the Behavior Analyst program, students meet the course requirements to sit for the BCBA examination, earning a credential that is in high demand.

It is essential that all candidates for the program have a current job in a setting that will enable them to meet the BACB’s supervised field work requirements. This includes having a BCBA who has agreed to provide supervision for the fieldwork. Accrual of supervision hours and applied projects requiring access to clients and supervision are essential components of the program.

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate knowledge of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and associated scientific principles that govern human behavior and the treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Students will demonstrate knowledge of clinical, educational and ethical issues pertaining to the application of ABA across a broad range of treatment contexts and behaviors.

Careers

Graduates who also complete the supervised fieldwork requirements and successfully pass the BCBA exam, will be able to work in a wide range of educational and clinical treatment settings as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

For more information, please contact Admissions at 1-800-829-4723.

Curriculum

19

Credits

Courses must be taken in sequence below.

Basic Applied Behavior Analysis -ASD

ESP 622  3 credit(s)

The basic principles of applied behavior analysis relevant to the design and implementation of behavioral interventions in educational and human service environments will be presented in this course. Behavioral principles such as schedules of reinforcement, measurement techniques, analysis and interpretation of behavioral data, ethical, and pragmatic issues will be covered. Students will critique the validity and usefulness of behavioral research to applied problems. The course will provide credit hours towards eligibility for the behavior analysis certification examination.

Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis ASD

ESP 726  3 credit(s)

Ethics and Professionalism in Applied Behavior Analysis

ESP 704  3 credit(s)

This course prepares students for the ethical and professional practice of applied behavior analysis. Students will learn about the foundations of ethical and professional behavior to ensure a high quality of practice in both behavior analysis and education in general. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct will be reviewed in detail. Ethical dilemmas and case studies will be presented for behavior analysts working in a variety of educational and therapeutic settings. Professional issues such as representation of one’s self and the field of behavior analysis, collaboration with other professionals, relationships with colleagues and clients, the evaluation of treatment and instructional procedures, and interpersonal communication will be explored. Learning activities will include synchronous instruction (lectures, group exercises, role play), asynchronous instruction (video lecture, responding online to questions and peer review of responses) and project-based instruction (writing exercises or papers). Students will take an active part In forums and problem solving ethical issues.

Research Design in Applied Behavior Analysis-ASD

ESP 724  3 credit(s)

This course focuses on research design and study of human behavior. You will learn about the characteristics of science and the rationale for having behavior as the focus. You will be exposed to issues related to measurement, specific research designs, and the important issues (such as variability) associated with designs. You will learn how to accurately analyze and interpret research data from a variety of research experiments. Related issues relevant to identifying functional relations among environmental and behavioral variables in behavior analysis will also be explored. This course provides credit hours toward educational qualifications required to sit for the behavior analysis certification examination.

Clinical Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis - ASD

ESP 722  3 credit(s)

Contemporary developments and issues in ABA including behavior change strategies, recent developments in ABA, generalization and ethical use of treatment methodologies are addressed. Part of the educational qualifications required to sit for the behavior analysis certification examination.

Applied Behavior Analysis Fluency Seminar

ESP 705  1 credit(s)

This one-credit course is designed to strengthen students’ ability to demonstrate key core knowledge competencies in the field of applied behavior analysis. During the course of the semester students will engage in a number of fluency based instructional activities that will enable them to demonstrate knowledge in all of the BCBA task list content areas. Students will be required to practice these skills both during class sessions and via software specifically designed to support fluency training and competence demonstration. Students must demonstrate proficiency in each of the task list content areas in order to successfully pass this course.

Implementing Behavior Analysis in Educational Settings - ASD

ESP 723  3 credit(s)

Focuses on the clinical practice of applied behavior analysis in a variety of settings. The application of the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in educational and treatment settings will be examined and the unique issues presented in these contexts will be reviewed and discussed. These issues include functional behavior assessments, ethics of practice, staff/parent training, and behavioral education in public schools.

Program Requirements

Applicants are required to have:

Master’s degree or higher in education, special education, or psychology in an area that meets the current BACB™ standards at time of enrollment. Please consult the BCBA program chair prior to enrollment.

Active employment in a relevant, related field with at least one year of experience in a ABA-based treatment setting.

Be working with or supervised by certified BCBA personnel. (Supervisor name and contact information must be submitted and verified upon program entry.)

Applicants must be prepared to pursue timely completion of the ABA course sequence, given that the sequence aligns with a particularedition of the exam approved by the national Behavior Analyst Certifying Board.

School Requirements

State Health Requirements

The Massachusetts Health Department and Cambridge College require the following of students in Massachusetts:

Immunizations – All students in Massachusetts are required to get certain immunizations before you can register for your first term. See form

Health Insurance – In Massachusetts, undergraduate students taking nine or more credits/term and graduate students taking six or more credits/term must enroll in the College’s health insurance plan. Students who have insurance with comparable coverage may request a waiver. See information and enroll or waive.

Note: Rates are as of September 2017, and are subject to change without notice. Rates apply to all students, unless otherwise noted.

Financial Aid

Cambridge College offers financial aid to students in our degree programs who are enrolled at least half time. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits each term. Graduate and doctoral students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits each term. Learn more

Grants, Scholarships and Loans

Cambridge College welcomes the opportunity to support your efforts to pay for college. Federal, state and local resources in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study, including Cambridge College Scholarships, are available to help defray the cost of tuition. Learn more

Getting Your Company to Help

Many companies have tuition assistance programs, designed to help their employees with their professional development. Learn more

Ready to Apply?

We can help you with any aspect of the application process. Call us at 1-800-829-4723. Start your journey now!

Cambridge College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The College and all its degree programs are authorized by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. The College is authorized to operate and offer selected degree programs in their states by the California Bureau for Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education, the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico, and is also recognized by the Puerto Rico Department of Education.

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